May 28, 2018

Well hello my friends and family! I guess it's been a while since you've heard from me. I'm sorry about that, just staying busy is all. I apologize for being so terrible with emailing. I can't make any promises, but I will sincerely try and make an effort to improve at it! To catch you up on what's happening here in good ol' Redding, I'll give you a brief synopsis of these past few weeks!

May 7-13: Wednesday we had interviews with President Ward. They were great as usual. Also, that day we were supposed to have our first lesson with a man named Brad but then he left us the Book of Mormon we left him and a note. You can see a photo of that note below. It was a really sad thing to see but it happens sometimes. Thursday, we went and played some basketball with some members of the ward, the Zone Leaders and some of the members non-member friends so that was great. Also, we had a great lesson with Norman. He explained how he struggles with exercising his faith so it's good to have learned that, so we can now help him. Saturday, we headed up to Weaverville and had some great lessons with Shawn, Oogie, Coby, and Miley. Also, Elder Semeatu talked to his family because of the time difference to Australia. Sunday there was a Hymn Invitational in the 5th Ward so that was something I'd never experienced before, but it was cool. After Church I was able to call my family!! That was like the best thing ever!!!

May 14-20: On Monday we went thrift shopping. I got this sweet hat and some brand-new roller blades for dirt cheap so that was so amazing! Not much else happened this week, it was actually a little rough because we haven't been able to find any new people to teach, but you hit these rough patches occasionally, you just have to continue to look forward with faith that it will get better! Saturday was actually an amazing day! We were once again up in Weaverville for Shawn and Bonnie's Wedding! And it was so amazing. It was actually the first wedding ceremony I've ever been to. After the wedding, we had a lesson with Sierra and it was so great. She is so close and continues to progress with each time we meet with her. Hopefully she'll soon be ready to make the full commitment! Sunday, we had a lesson early in the morning with two of our NEW investigators, Natalie and Jason Hainsworth! They seem awesome and hopefully they will be willing to keep commitments we leave them because that seems to be a major struggle for many people we teach. It's frustrating but what can you do?? We also were able to go to mission prep and talk about our stories before the mission and what we did to prepare. It was great to be able to help others out with that!

But this week was so Uber fantastic! On Monday we went on a hike to Black Butte, which is right up by Mount Shasta. It was so so cool! On the drive up to the hike, we saw the original Black Bear Diner so that had me super excited for some reason. We had dinner with Bishop Wilson and his family and they were telling us a funny story about how they were talking about Elder Semeatu and I and Sister Wilson called me, "Elder Shi-Tzu" So that was funny…. I guess. On Tuesday we had such a great lesson on the Plan of Salvation with TJ! The Spirit was very strong during the lesson. It stinks because we are always having such great lessons with TJ, but then he never ends up coming to church, so we just need to help motivate him to do so! That night we also went and visited Gabe and he let us know that he slipped up on the Word of Wisdom and he had been drinking coffee lately, so that was a bit of an issue, but we will keep on helping him out because he needs to get to the temple! On Wednesday we went up to Weaverville with President Paulson, President Ward's counselor, and had Shawn's Baptismal interview. It was such a great time up there and Shawn passed! That was a major plus! Thursday we went on Exchanges with 2nd/3rd Ward. Elder Herman came to our area and we had a good time together. We unfortunately didn't see any of the so-called "Exchange Miracles" but we both did learn a lot. Plus, we ended off the exchange having all the Elders in the district meet up at the Schaub's for some Cider Shakes! Also, Aidan and Lilly had their baptismal interviews that day and they did great. Friday, we planned and helped Brother Martin move an organ. That was fun! Also, a guy in the stake named Brother Prusse taught the Zone Leaders and us how to do some insane self-defense moves so I wouldn't mess with me anymore.. ha-ha.  Just kidding, everyone could still probably beat me up. We also spent nearly 2 hours that evening cleaning the baptismal font and that was a fantastic time! But oh boy! Was Saturday spectacular! It was Shawn, Aidan and Lilly's baptisms!!!! Holy Cow, the Spirit was so strong, and they were just so fantastically awesome! They are all such amazing people and it is so incredible to see them all making their first covenant with our Heavenly Father! And what was awesome was Gabe came to Shawn's baptism and the Spirit literally sucker punched him! Also, to add on to that amazing day, we were able to do some service and at the house we were cleaning, there were these super sweet ninja swords, as you may see by the picture below! Sunday, we went up to Weaverville and were able to witness Shawn's Confirmation and not only that, but to witness him receive the priesthood! It's going to be so cool to be able to see him on Saturday baptize Oogie! Shawn pulled Elder Semeatu and I aside and told us about his personal experience of his Baptism and it was so cool to hear about it from his perspective. He told us that after having had that experience and witnessing what he did, he knows that this Church is true! And all I can say in response to what Shawn told us, is that I know this Church to be true as well!!!

Anyways, I love you all and miss you dearly!

Make sure to email me! And I promise if you do I will email you back (eventually!) ❤❤❤

1- I'm sorry I'm such a nerd

2- Zone Selfie!

3- Shawn's big day!

4- Me with Shasta! 

5- Skoy boys

6- Not every selfie is pretty

7- Neat view

8- OG Black Bear Diner 

9- Sweet Thrift shop pick ups

10- Our note Brad left us:(

11- Shawn and Bonnie's Wedding!

Elder Riley Schneiter
California Roseville Mission
3771 Greenhaven Lane
Redding, CA 96001